Wilson BOE hears from Ransomville

Residents crowd the gym at Stevenson Elementary in Ransomville Tuesday to protest a closing of the school eyed by the Wilson Central School District.

Story
and photo by Terry Duffy

Discussions
on overriding the state's 2 percent tax cap and district
consolidation dominated a work session of the Wilson Central School
District Board of Education in Ransomville on Tuesday. It was a
meeting that not only examined the impact of district consolidation
on students, but also one that saw emphatic pleas by hundreds of
Ransomville residents who rallied against a possible closing of W.H.
Stevenson Elementary School.

"I
don't think we've ever had a crowd like this for a work session,
commented Wilson School Board President Timothy Kropp as the meeting
got under way.

A
crowd of close to 500 packed the gym at Stevenson. There, residents
heard first on the tax cap voting scenarios and the what-ifs,
followed by building comparisons of Stevenson to Thomas Marks
Elementary - the Wilson school that would absorb Ransomville's
students. That followed with arguments from Stevenson and district
administrators on why the school should remain open, and then
arguments from Ransomville residents.

Wilson
administrator Mark Rampado stated that the district feels Thomas
Marks Elementary is more than sufficient to handle an increased
student enrollment should Stevenson close and its students be moved
there. He said that, currently, 242 students attend Stevenson and the
building has a student capacity of 690. Thomas Marks Elementary has
300 students attending and a capacity of 1,020. Building size, the
number of classrooms and available facilities options also favored
Thomas Marks Elementary, said Rampado, telling attendees, "This
building could easily handle such a transfer," adding he felt
students would be absorbed without any major problems.

That view was not totally shared however, as
administrators Michael Cancilla and John Diodate, discussing
elementary consolidation/preservation, and Daniel Johnson/Phil
Incorvaia on middle/high school consolidation, went on to speak of
significant impacts to students should the closing and other
consolidation efforts occur. Noted were the uncertainties seen in
predicting enrollment and the hiring of instructors; and fears in
reductions of courses and the elimination of non-mandated courses for
students. "It could all be done, but it would come at a significant
cost to students," said Incorvaia.

Administrator
Jeff Roth expanded on this further when it came to the impact on the
district's co-curriculars, which he described as "essential part
of school programs." Roth said that eliminating sports for example,
would be "cutting an opportunity ... for kids, the community to be
involved."

Roth
spoke of other extras - music programs, bands, etc. - and the
impact that such community-involved activities would have on
students. "It (the lack of availability) would handcuff students
later on," said Roth, telling members such a lack of programs could
impact a student's chances on entering a college.

Wilson
Superintendent Dr. Mike Wendt faulted New York state for many of the
district's financial woes, telling attendees he felt Wilson is a
victim of the state's inequity on rural schools. Wendt criticized
state education policies such as its inequity of STAR rebate
formulas, and its focus on seeking to regionalize high schools in
rural areas in an effort to save money. "The $17,000 per pupil cost
in Wilson is much less than those in Nassau," said Wendt, adding
the state might want to consider a cap on cost per pupil
expenditures.

Wendt's
remarks, coupled with those of the previous speakers, seemed to fuel
the fire of residents who then came up to speak. Over an hour's
time virtually all came out in opposition to the district's plan.
Some responses:

•"This
whole thing is very passionate," said resident Debbie Parker,
Ransomville resident and chair of the Town of Porter Recreation
Commission. Parker commented that "students have an academic
advantage in smaller schools" and that the loss of Stevenson would
not only be a negative to students, but also to Ransomville through
the loss of vital community programs. She closed by presenting the
board a petition bearing the names of 583 residents opposed to the
Stevenson closing.

•Kathy
Zasucha, Porter Recreation director, commented that the loss of
Stevenson would impact the town's recreation programs, and that
physical education offerings for the district "would suffer."

•Resident
Sue Sherwood of Baer Road questioned how the closing would help
resolve the district's $3.5 million budget woes. "What will come
next? It's a Band-Aid approach," said Sherwood. The resident went
on to raise issue on "the socio-economic impacts" such a move
would have on Ransomville.

•Parker
Road resident Dan Seider, one of the parent volunteers in a group
formed to prevent Stevenson from closing, argued a number of points
to board members. Mentioned was the fact Royalton-Hartland, a
district similar to Wilson, was able to keep its two schools open in
different communities; and that St. John Lutheran in Wheatfield,
through innovations, was actually able to increase enrollment and
achieve success. "They were able to do it ... there's no benefit
to kids on what you're trying to do here," said Parker. The
resident went on to question why Wilson couldn't address the
Stevenson financial issue by means of tapping into its $2 million
available fund balance, noting the district manages a $23 million
budget.

Throughout
the comment period, resident after resident spoke in favor of
maintaining what the community has with Stevenson.

Wendt and the Wilson School Board will consider
these comments plus others while searching for other options as the
district continues to weigh consolidation and its other financial
issues. The district will likely be discussing Stevenson at its Nov.
13 BOE meeting, also taking place at the Ransomville school, and in
future sessions as an anticipated March 2013 decision date nears.